Church of Santa Chiara in Turi: the secret of the Poor Clares and the work of the Sanmartino brothers.
- Turi BorgoAntico
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
A sober façade concealing a treasure
In the heart of Turi’s historic centre, behind the simple stone façade of the Church of Santa Chiara, lies a unique heritage of art and spirituality in Apulia.
Founded in 1623 by brothers Elia and Vittore de Vittore, the church arose alongside the convent of the Poor Clares, who for centuries lived here in seclusion, prayer, and work.
The marble masterpiece of the Sanmartino brothers
The true surprise reveals itself once you cross the threshold: behind the high altar stands an extraordinary 18th-century marble altarpiece, attributed to the Neapolitan brothers Gennaro and Giuseppe Sanmartino.
The name of Giuseppe Sanmartino resounds throughout art history: he is the sculptor of the celebrated Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel in Naples. In Turi, together with his brother Gennaro, he created a work remarkable for its refinement and scenographic balance. The altarpiece, with its columns, cornices, niches and reliefs, is not merely a liturgical backdrop but a true sacred architecture in marble, lending solemnity and light to the statue of Saint Clare.
The altar frontal and the “Glory of Saint Clare”
Before the altar lies another gem: the marble frontal, decorated with inlays of precious stones and enriched with the relief of the Glory of Saint Clare. This piece, also attributed to Giuseppe Sanmartino, bears the unmistakable hand of an artist who could transform marble into a vibrant and dynamic medium.
Saint Clare between seclusion and beauty
Walking along the nave of the church, one can still sense the intimate atmosphere of enclosure: here the nuns prayed and worked, safeguarding their devotion away from the eyes of the world. Yet, behind their hidden life, they left an artistic treasure we are privileged to admire today.
The Church of Santa Chiara in Turi is now a place where religious memory and Baroque art intertwine. A small casket that shows how, even in a modest Apulian town, a fragment of the great Neapolitan artistic tradition can shine.
Why visit the Church of Santa Chiara in Turi
To discover the link between Turi and the renowned Sanmartino brothers.
To admire a marble masterpiece that ideally converses with Naples’ Veiled Christ.
To breathe in the evocative atmosphere of a convent that for centuries safeguarded both faith and art.
👉 Next time you pass through Turi, don’t stop at the façade alone: step inside and be surprised by the hidden masterpiece of the Poor Clares.
The monastic complex, between the 17th and 18th centuries, became a vital hub for the community: the nuns managed lands, revenues, and activities, quietly intertwining their lives with those of the town.
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